Over the Wire

P&W paper shipments decreased 6% in April compared with April 2015, according to the AF&PA. Total P&W paper inventory decreased less than 1% from March levels.

 

Demand for printing and writing papers was down 4.9% y/y in April, according to the PPPC. N.A. P&W paper demand was 3.5% lower through the first four months of 2016.

 

According to a lead research anaylst, the market will witness the rise of many integrated vendors with proprietary forest/plantation areas for the procurement of raw materials for pulp production during the forecast period. Sustainable forestry is identified as an integral part of business model plans for the largest pulp vendors.

 

Containerboard production in the U.S. was 2.6% lower in April 2016 compared with April 2015, while the month-over-month average daily production, compared with to March 2016, was 1.9% higher.

 

With the implementation of anti-dumping rulings and gradual recovery of downstream viscose staple fiber industry, it's expected the dissolving pulp sector will bottom out during 2016-2020 with output and apparent consumption of dissolving pulp amounting to 3.2 million tons and 3.184 million tons respectively in 2020.

 

Country's bleached hardwood kraft pulp imports were down 1.2% y/y for the first four months of 2016. The decline included 24% less from Indonesia. Bleached softwood kraft pulp imports increased 5.4%.

 

Boxboard output in April 2016 decreased 3.6% compared with April 2015 and decreased 6.0% from last month (March 2016).

 

Report covers the current scenario and the growth prospects of the global milk packaging market for the period 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, it takes into account the total revenue generated by regular milk and flavored milk packaging vendors from different geographical regions. It also includes a discussion of key vendors.

 

U.S. kraft paper shipments in April 2016 were 137,800 tons, which is 3.7% lower than in April 2015.

 

Pulp mills in Eastern Canada have become more competitive following sharply declining wood costs the past four years. In fact, wood costs reached their lowest levels in 15 years in the 1Q/16., according to the "North American Wood Fiber Review."

 

According to the latest report on this market segment released May 23, many vendors like WestRock, Georgia-Pacific, and Pratt are advancing production capacity technology through development of new production plants or acquisition of existing players. There is emerging popularity of retail ready packaging and multipack cartons.

 

"A major technical challenge is finding an optimal process design that connects the dispersed odorous gases in the factory to a pipe system for combustion," said Stefan Hännestrand, project manager at ÅF.

 

To start in-house production of BCTMP, ITC, India, worked with Alfa Laval, which implemented an evaporator system for the new BCTMP black liquor evaporator process.The project was done in a way to ensure than ITC's zero liquid discharge statutory directive was achieved. .

 

PM 3 produces 100% recycled, clay-coated boxboard for folding box conversion. The Bekaert Solaronics GemDryer addresses the paper machine’s flexibility needs and can be easily adapted to the different top coating dry weights.

 

Unifor and the Public and Private Workers of Canada recently held a third joint meeting in Vancouver to prepare for collective bargaining in 2017. While the unions have bargained separately since 2002, they have agreed to work together in the future.

 

The demolition of A64 paper machine required removal of 1,800 tons of steel and 100 tons of copper. Holes were dug 40-50 feet deep to house new equipment. Up to 500 employees, who began training April 5, work at one time to meet the projected July 3 conversion completion date. A brief past history of the mill is included.

 

FITNIR Online will measure key pulp liquor properties from the mill’s recaust and recovery streams. These data will feed into a supervisory control system for process optimization. Expected to be the world’s largest pulp mill once operational, a total of two analyzers and six field sample stations will be implemented to provide fundamental liquor properties at strategic process locations for optimal control.

 

The U.S. state awarded about $843,000 to six projects, most of which were related to improving the efficiency of access for pulp, paper, and tissue production at two prominent mill sites that hope to become more competitive as a result. Baileyville and Skowhegan's P&P operations are set to benefit from the improvements.

 

With this addition, the Finnish bioproduct mill can utilize the chemicals in the odorous gases of the pulp manufacturing process.This will help to reduce the wastewater load considerably. Startup is planned for Q3 of 2017. The investment is valued at roughly EUR 20 million.

 

Agreement with a leading paper company in China will provide Fulfill E-325 higher filler technology, which allows papermakers to produce quality paper at lower cost by replacing higher-cost fiber with precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC).

 

On May 4, a fire broke out in the mill yard which, as a result of the hot, dry, windy, weather conditions in northern Alberta, quickly spread to the log storage area outside of the plant. As a precaution, Norbord immediately suspended production at the mill. Shipping from finished goods inventory resumed the weekend of May 6.

 

Mill in Sweden will upgrade its recovery boiler and an evaporation line. The delivery is scheduled for the fall of 2016.

 

Company has produced 500,000 metric tons of dissolving pulp at its pulp mill in Mörrum, Sweden. Production started in December 2011 and has increased steadily since then.

 

Strategic partnerships will result in concrete collaboration projects, based on needs identified in close dialog between the management of Stora Enso and the respective university management.

 

When the roll cover facility is fully operational, Voith will be able to provide customers on the South American Pacific coast with the same roll cover technology and quality it had been importing from other units, without the risks that come with transport over long distances.

 

The goal of the rebuild is to increase white liquor production, which will be followed by installation of an oxygen delignification plant in the future.

 

New converting plant in Hunucma, Yucatan, will supply current and future needs of clients that manufacture in the Yucatan region, including Cerveceria Yucateca, as well as the needs of markets in southeast Mexico and Central America.

 

With the acquisition of Delta Print and Packaging in Northern Ireland, Huhtamaki continues to implement its growth strategy focused on food and drink packaging and enters the folding carton packaging market also in Europe.

 

This month (May 2016), the company became the main owner of OOO Gofra Dmitrov, which boasts a Moscow Region production facility.

 

Work on company's new BM 2 has progressed to a very advanced stage. The co-operation with potential new clients has proved that there is strong interest in consumer board products of Kotkamills Oy.

 

The work has included development of a new depot in Snodland, the installation of new balers at its Snodland, Blackburn, and Glasgow depots, and an additional weighbridge in Nottingham to ease traffic flow into and out of the depot there.

 

New single body, combination automatic air valve features an innovative design for clean or dirty services that delivers a wider operating range and minimal maintenance.

 

Eagle Systems will demonstrate the first system capable of applying cold foil finishing to uncoated paper, in the works for more than six years as an R&D project. Previous iterations, tried many times by different groups, were never capable of 100% coverage until the new Eagle Cold Foil system, to be introduced commercially May 31.

 

"Evergreen Packaging SmartPak Cartons provide advantages in shelf space optimization, product differentiation, and distribution efficiency while also tying into current consumer trends of smaller households, growing beverage options, and increasingly eco-conscious shoppers," said Evergreen Packaging VP of Sales Greg Otto.

 

In the French Paper Total Package promo pieces you will find a deck of cards, perhaps the most stylish in the world, and spend some time quietly contemplating a set of book replica packaging designs as exquisite as any of the artworks they may contain.

 

Company is working with a number of UV inkjet press manufacturers to develop primer solutions for both film and paper substrates.

 

SKMF 146 cases are formed by shaping them around a mandrel resulting in a high level of accuracy and consistency. The forming improves efficiency of the entire packing line due to more reliable filling, perfect case closing, and straight stack palletization. This results in better pack performance, minimizing supply chain risk.

 

Product portfolio now includes carton sealing and specialty tapes, machine, hand and specialty stretch film, shrink film, and mailers.

 

Natural Resources Canada, Novae, and the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) each in turn named Cascades as a finalist in their most recent call for candidacies.

 

The company agreed to donate 1% of gross sales of durable papers and synthetics brand Durilla to The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. All Durilla papers are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which promotes responsible management of the world's forests.

 

The company is being honored by an energy partnership focused on the Northeast U.S. for its continued efforts to advance energy efficiency in its operations, which has resulted in annual energy savings of more than 1,595,014 kWh, and cost savings of $191,402.

 

The potential toxic chemical application includes 30 pre-sale handling coatings in the fast food market, subject of a new study, affecting certain forest products from cellophane to paperboard and food wrapping papers. Alternative coating technologies for forest products may soon be needed in the fast food handling sector.

 

Converters of non-contact food handling corrugated and paperboard packaging must increasingly ensure new printing technology is food safety compliant. Safe, water-based inks must now be used in paper packaging food material sent to converters with digital equipment to assure compliance with all European and U.S. regulations.

 

Company announced its Shelbyville, Ill., facility achieved food safety certification by exceeding the standards of the benchmarking procedures as dictated by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). IP further declared the goal of meeting or exceeding the GFSI standards at all of their U.S. Foodservice Facilities by the end of 2016.

 

Since joining the IP Global Technology organization in 1990, Edward Barr has held a variety of leadership positions in multiple facilities in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Tennessee, including serving as director of manufacturing excellence from 2007-2012. He will assume overall leadership responsibility for the Texas facility.

 

Company re-elected Eilif Due, Joanne Owen, Nils Ingemund Hoff, and Jon-Aksel Torgersen as shareholder-elected members of Norske Skog's board of directors. Mimi Berdal was elected new member. The annual general meeting elected Jon-Aksel Torgersen as chair of the board.

 

The Pulp and Paper Safety Association’s (PPSA) annual conference "Next Generation Safety: Meeting the Challenge of Change" will be held June 5-8 in Mobile, Ala., USA.

 

The 2016 Northeast PIMA/TAPPI Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held June 10 at the Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn, Me., USA. Gulf Coast and Southeastern TAPPI Local Sections will present KILNCON, June 9-11 in Destin, Fla.

 

Discover where articles and other information are located on the site and increase your understanding of our navigation with TAPPI Lost and Found.

 

Gain in-depth knowledge of the bonding process with this two-day course, now with an expanded instructor’s team.

 

Now through May 31, receive 50% off this guide to the fundamentals and practical applications of paper coating.

 

The nominating committee is responsible for presenting the slate for board officers and directors to the membership as well as the nominees for association level awards to the board of directors.

 

Don’t miss the best in wood science at the FPS 70th International Convention in Portland, Ore., USA, on June 27-29.

 

Graphic Packaging International is currently seeking a senior product engineer in its Power & Recovery Department.

 

TAPPI and NC State are working together to deliver a specialized financial course, October 5-7, centered on your objectives in the pulp, paper, and related industries.